Quitting smoking will often require more than just willpower. For many people, hypnotherapy is an effective solution because of the power of the subconscious mind.
It is essential for the person to know why they want to quit before any successful attempts can be made. It is common for people to relapse if they are quitting for somebody else. If the individuals are deciding for themselves, the chances of success increases.
The anatomy of a cigarette
Cigarettes aren’t merely tobacco and paper. During the manufacturing process, a whole cocktail of chemicals is added. With each cigarette, a person will be inhaling harmful substances, including; Nicotine, Tar, Carbon monoxide.
Nicotine – This is the drug that stimulates the brain and causes the addiction. It is important to note that the nicotine leaves the body in three to four days.
Tar – After smoking tobacco, tar is the residue that is deposited into the lungs. From here, it enters the bloodstream and gets carried to other parts of the body. Tar contains over 4000 chemicals, over 50 cancer-causing carcinogens and other poisons. This is why smoking is considered one of the biggest causes of disease.
Carbon monoxide – This gas affects how much oxygen the blood can carry around the body. As a result, smoking prevents the body from getting the oxygen it needs to function smoothly. The smoker may experience shortness of breath, low energy levels and poor circulation.
Why stop smoking?
Smoking increases the risk of developing a wide range of health ailments and diseases. But the habit does not only harm the smoker’s health, but it can also have a negative impact on the people around them. Children and babies living with people who smoke are vulnerable to many health problems. This includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and an increased risk of cot death.
Some of the most common smoking-related illnesses include:
Infertility – Smoking affects the fertility of men and women, making it difficult to conceive.
Gum disease – As well as staining your teeth, smoking can cause premature tooth loss due to gum disease.
Heart disease – Nearly one in six cases are smoking-related.
Lung cancer – More than eight in 10 cases of lung cancer are directly related to smoking.
Other cancers – This includes mouth, throat, nose, blood, cervical and pancreatic cancer.
Adults who endure passive smoking for a long period of time are also at an increased risk of heart disease and lung cancer. Tobacco is also an irritant; therefore it can make conditions such as asthma worse.
Hypnotherapy for smoking
Many people find hypnotherapy for quitting smoking an effective treatment. Hypnotherapy changes the unhealthy behaviours and thinking patterns associated with the smoking habit. The thoughts and behaviours of smokers are often what prevents them from quitting.
When a person makes the decision to quit smoking, changing their routine and their perspective on cigarettes is essential.
When making the decision to do stop smoking hypnosis, it is vital that the person is quitting for themselves. Hypnosis for smoking has been found to be most effective when the person has decided that they are going to be a non-smoker and for themselves.
Hypnotherapy works by guiding the individual into a deep, relaxed trance state. In this relaxed state, the subconscious mind is more susceptible to suggestion. Suggestions such as, “You have no urge, no desire, no cravings, to smoke at all” or “the smell of cigarette smoke makes you nauseous” can be made by the hypnotherapist. The hypnotherapist may ask the individual to imagine themselves as a non-smoker experiencing all the benefits of being free of the smoking habit.
The nicotine leaves the body within three days the only remaining challenge is the triggers to smoke which are taken care of in the pre-talk and hypnotherapy session.
It is important to remember that hypnotherapy for smoking is not always a quick fix. While for some people, just one session is enough to quit smoking, others may benefit from follow-up sessions. The ultimate aim of stop smoking hypnosis is to empower people to take control of their addiction through the utilisation of their powerful subconscious mind. Hypnotherapy for quit smoking will promote healthier behaviours. It can help the individual to develop a different daily routine & new patterns of thinking. Also gives them back time to do more productive, healthy enjoyable things.
Benefits of quitting
For the subconscious mind, it is never too late to quit smoking. Whatever age the smoker is, if they decide to stop, their health will benefit. The lungs do repair themselves. However, the sooner a person quits; the faster the body can recover, and the risk of developing dangerous health conditions will decrease.
There are many benefits to stopping smoking, including:
More energy
As carbon monoxide affects how much oxygen the blood can carry, the body can find it difficult to function properly. When a person stops smoking, the carbon monoxide in the blood lowers. This allows the lungs and muscles to work normally. It also means more oxygen reaches the brain, boosting alertness and energy.
Improved immune system
Smoking is detrimental to the effectiveness of the immune system. This makes the body more susceptible to colds and flu. Quitting allows the immune system to strengthen.
Longer life expectancy
Better breathing
Within nine months of giving up, lung capacity is said to increase by as much as 10 per cent. This allows the body to carry out daily tasks without the loss of breath. The “smoker’s cough” should also disappear and any breathing conditions, such as asthma should be reduced.
Less stress
Many smokers reach for a cigarette when in a stressful situation. The immediate hit of nicotine after withdrawal may have them feel relaxed, but in the long-term, smoking increases stress levels.
Younger looking skin
Smoking prematurely ages the skin. Regular smoking can leave the skin dull, dry and prone to wrinkles. When a person decides to stop smoking, the effect is reversed as the skin begins to receive the nutrients it needs. Over time, the appearance of the skin should dramatically improve.
More money
The average cost of a 20-pack of cigarettes is $30. Over time it all adds up and instead of being channelled into worthwhile things it is wasted on cigarettes, and there is nothing to show for the money spent other than decreased health.
Stop smoking timeline
Time since the last cigarette:
Effects on the body:
20 minutes
Blood pressure and heart rate return to normal.
12 hours
Carbon monoxide levels drop back to normal.
24 hours
The body starts to clear out the mucus build-up in the lungs.
72 hours
Breathing becomes more natural, and energy levels increase.
One month
The appearance of the skin improves.
3 to 9 months
Lung function can grow by up to 10 per cent.
One year
The risk of suffering from a heart attack falls to about half of that of a smoker.
Ten years
The risk of developing lung cancer decreases to about half of that of a smoker.
15 years
The risk of suffering heart attack drops to that of a non-smoker.
Common fears and misconceptions
When deciding to stop smoking, many people have some initial worries. Common concerns include:
Weight gain – Nicotine is an appetite suppressant, so it is possible for a person to feel hungrier after quitting. This is not the case for everyone, but if it is, suggestions are made in the hypnotherapy so that any unnecessary eating does not become a habit.
Not having a social tool – For some people, smoking is associated with being social. However, the smoking laws have changed that. Smoking outside social premises has become a more isolated experience. It is important for people to remember that they can be uninterrupted and stay inside with those who do not smoke.
Feeling it’s not “the right time” – A common excuse and sadly it is unlikely there will ever be a “good time”. Life will always have its ups and downs. In the hypnosis sessions, you will learn healthier coping strategies that can be absorbed at the subconscious level and become automatic without the need to turn to a cigarette. This is the many ways hypnosis can help.